Monday, June 14, 2004

Caribbean News detailsNEW YORK, N.Y., Sat. June 12: A Jamaican immigrant, who evaded a murder rap for 16 years, was yesterday sentenced to 25 years to life by a Rockland County Court judge.

Michael Simon, 36, was on the lam for more than a decade before turning himself into authorities in his homeland last year. Jamaican police claimed he told them last October he had killed someone and wanted to get back to New York to serve his prison time.

He was extradited back to the U.S. to face charges of second-degree murder in the shooting of Richard Marryshow, 27, on July 16, 1987, in Spring Valley, Associated Press reports indicate. His trial lawyer, William Gerard, claimed that Simon fired only in self-defense.

However, despite not pleading guilty to the crime and maintaining his innocence, a jury found Simon guilty of the charge. They were told by the judge not to consider the self-defense plea. – Hardbeatnews.com